What's outside of your picture window today?

Great bird photos!!! Our former creek, now marsh, is so filled with silt that our resident heron can't live in our little valley any more...hardly any frogs due to all the silt in the marsh. An egret used to fly in, as though he/she was considering making this home, but the heron engaged the egret in great swooping aerial battles, often right outside my office window. I really miss the froggy chorus every evening!
Thursday, one of the deer, smelling sunflower seeds in a feeder affixed to the big glass in our front door to the deck, clomped up the steps onto the deck. She wasn't able to reach the hanging fuchsia basket, but spent some time peering right in the door and checking all the seed hulls on the mat. She couldn't reach the sunflower seed feeder affixed to the top of the glass. This is the first time one of the deer has come up onto the deck, so it was a real surprise. Unfortunately, it was early without much light, and impossible to use a flash because it would flare on the glass door. I've attached two photos of the doe on the deck and one of one of the does with twin fawns.

@californiazebra, @johnbishop, @loribmt, @gingerw, and all...oh, my goodness. These are magnificent shots of magnificent creatures...thank you so much for sharing your special neighbors. You are blessed!
I'm sending you pictures outside the windows at Mayo Florida, Jacksonville. The Mayo Building recently was renovated and a wonderful new atrium opening to some cultured nature outside a huge wall of windows. I was taking a stroll with my hot pink walker after a Reclast IV Infusion last Tuesday. I enjoyed the walk to the gift shop a building away, and thought you, my friends.
So, I'm sharing that days view I enjoyed prior to being flat down for 3 days in pain, groaning and spasms in muscles and bones, entire body. So glad I enjoyed this before my reaction began!
Blessings to all...Elizabeth

@joyces, and all...
How precious. Thanks for this closeup to this little family. I know they make you happy!
Blessings, Elizabeth

Nice pictures. Photogenic face.

@lagrange5 and all...
Thanks. Just what is! After years of life, well-earned gray hair, and steroids/meds!
Happy to be here!!!
Blessings, Elizabeth

Good morning, beautiful you! 😍 I’m happy to see you, Elizabeth! And thank you for sharing the photos of Mayo-Jacksonville! That’s a little reminiscent of the Gonda building at Mayo-Rochester! Love all the windows and natural lighting! As always, the gorgeous grand pianos that are so appreciated in the Mayo buildings!
The news about your being flat with pain is troubling. I’m so sorry this is happening. Was that a reaction from the Reclast? Is it better now?

@loribmt, and all...Yep, my own special reaction to the Reclast IV infusion on Tuesday. I was so pleased to finally address osteoporosis and bone issues that first developed when I was only 35, in the dark ages of medicine, there was no doctor in this area who knew how to treat it. I was told I'd be in a full body brace in 5 years, 7-10 years in a wheelchair. I flipped, fired the neurologist, told him NO, found a new neurologist in town, and began taking oyster shell calcium and exercise.

My ferritin and iron profile levels were crazy for several months, so my PCP referred me to Mayo Endo and Hematology to find answers and treatment. I wanted another iron infusion but we took a different direction.

The endocrinologist ordered a full-body nuclear scan and bloodwork, conferred with colleagues, and suggested Reclast to hopefully help relieve the increasing bone/muscle pain, slow the deterioration of multiple herniated discs and other issues, and prevent fractures with future falls that may lead to my demise. I fell several years ago, fractured the T12 vertebrae, and had a cementing procedure that gave me 15 years without pain able to function.

Ck the August Mayo Newsletter, the inside article, about my procedure. I'm hoping sharing this will relieve some concerns folks have about having this done. It was miraculous for me. The reporter was delightful, added an 's' to my last name, but was on target and told the story well. I'm honored and it was fun!

The Reclast was Tuesday afternoon. I enjoyed walking to the next building, taking pictures for you all, visiting the gift shop, and getting a couple of days' deli food before heading home to bed by 6. I was tired and getting achy. By 8, I was in full-body serious pain from the infusion.

Thinking it through, while in growing pain, I realized I wasn't having an allergic reaction...no tongue/mouth/throat swelling, and breathing ok on bi-pap and oxygen which made a huge difference, every bone and muscle was in severe pain, cramping, in spasms and tremors. I called Mayo at 3:30 a.m. to be sure I was correct. The on-call doc was great and assured me I was having a severe reaction that should last about 8-9 hours. She urge hydration-drank 5/16 oz bottles of filtered water I thankfully keep in an extra bedroom upstairs with other drinks and food. That saved me as I could barely turn over or walk at all during this. After 2 sleepless nights, 3 painful days, and slow improvement, I'm ok now, pleased I had the infusion, and hoping to see bone and pain improvement. I look forward to the next 2 annual infusions extending my time and quality of life.

The hematologist put me on a different iron supplement that is GI/digestion-friendly and has
brought into more normal ranges my iron profile numbers. I'm thrilled! This was a serious issue that this wise doctor addressed with me and we are resolving the problems together.
Once again, Mayo makes life better, safer and so it goes...

Glad you enjoyed the pictures. It's a lovely atrium, yes, the grand piano is one of several that bring us all such pleasure, along with the architecture, the artwork, the lovely grounds, and the help given.

Hope you are well, Lori, and enjoying your wonderful lake home. Blessings, Elizabeth

Elizabeth, wow…not to make light of any of this but you are like those Timex Watch commercials years ago…”Takes a licking but keeps on ticking!” You are remarkable with everything you endure and still have this positive countenance. You’re an inspiration for all of us. ☺️

I read the newsletter article this afternoon and thought that name was familiar! It’s wonderful the surgery for your spinal compression fracture has been so successful for 15 years! Hopefully no more reactions to the Reclast…that sounded miserable! Sending a big hug. 😍

I certainly didn't live the way I have in order to avoid osteoporosis, but that's been the result. First, I worked for a male chauvinist publisher for nearly 30 years: his daily announcement was, "men need to fish; women like to work." Riled me every day. He hated to go out in public (preferred to just go fishing several days every week), so I ran the small company, cranking out two magazines and various quarterlies, annuals, and books. I also had to do all the outdoor trade shows, which meant loading my pickup with so many cases of books and magazines that sometimes I had a hard time coaxing it up hills...while I loaded the truck, he used to come out, give me a little wave and say, "Have fun." Yikes...it's surprising that I never slapped him! Most of those years I was a single mother with no backup, so had to hire someone to care for my kids while I was absent for a week at a time, driving most of a day each way, unloading the truck and setting up my booth, then loading up whatever hadn't sold in order to start driving home. Back in the 70s and 80s, even early 90s, I was usually the only woman with a booth at any of the shows. Guys would swagger down the aisle, belly up to my booth, and ask to speak to the "boss." My response was always a smart-ass, "You are!" This was often followed by an amazed, "but, of course, you don't really fish..." That, in spite of the fact that at least one of the magazines would have a photo of me holding a big fish on the cover. Sheesh! I worked really hard, often 60-80 hours per week, but I loved the challenge of meeting all the deadlines and having publications that sold well. The fly fishing magazine I started had a steady circulation of 40,000 and more, was a real source of satisfaction. The other great thing is that I only was paid commission to sell ads, and enjoyed the greatest income of anyone in the company, including Mr. Publisher! It all worked until the publisher's two sons were old enough to need work: then he proposed to have them manage things while I would have been demoted. I said, "no thanks," and quit, starting a marketing company to serve many of the advertisers I'd worked with over the years. So, I was incredibly fortunate, not only in earning far more than most women back then, but in having on-going satisfaction with the work I did. A side benefit was that all the lifting prevented osteoporosis. I continued to have lots of publications to lift while marketing, plus, when we moved to this little town nearly 10 years ago, Backpacks for Kids needed someone to pick up a mere 70 loaves of bread from Dave's in the metro area two hours away. Since I had a contract to work for one of my clients one day a week only a few miles from the Dave's warehouse, I naturally volunteered. My contract ended, but the bread run gradually increased to nearly 500 loaves/pkgs. , insuring my continued health. I'll be 81 tomorrow, and still load hundreds of loaves of bread, then unload and distribute them around town to various charities. I also have a small acreage to maintain...lots of mowing, hefting bags of barkdust, cleaning gutters...all the things to keep this old house and yard in decent shape. Last night, I finally finished the big job of weeding and mulching the big flower bed out beside the road, for all the people who walk by to enjoy. Now, to finish cutting up the rest of the big limbs that fell during the "never before" snow we had in March before any of that wood is ready to be split. I love seeing all the wildlife that lives here, especially the deer, who know my place is safe for them, that my dog will never bother them. Last night, as I was walking out to finish mulching, one of the does with twins followed me down the driveway, hoping I'd go back to the house to get apple slices. Spoiled!!!

This is literally outside my front window but I can't take the credit. My 12yo grand nephew is my garden helper this summer. This garden has been neglected for about 10 years. Peter dug out the old plants and set them aside for moving last week, dug and divided some overgrown hostas out back and added dump wagons full of compost. Today he lifted all the rocks sunken into the dirt, arranged the plants and rocks as you see them with very little coaching, and planted everything. His total work time so far about 8 hours! Thursday he and Jerry will build a small log wall behind this bed and remove the old lights and wires. He's looking forward to using the little saw and big driill. I am in awe of this young man! He is careful, never steps on plants, and is a joy to hang out with. Oh and he bakes all the cakes for his extended family! His parents and older brothers are equally cool.
Next week he'll be on a trip and the following week we start another renovation.
My grandsons were eager to work with us today too.
Sue